When do all of the magicians arrive?

By Chad Willett 

Editor’s note: The following is the last in a series of eight guest op-eds from leaders of the Forward Greater Cheyenne initiative that have been published each Tuesday in the WTE since Jan. 22.

Public drinking, gambling and prostitution; shootings, stabbings and thefts. Does this sound like Cheyenne? Nah, not today, but it certainly was how things were around here in the 1800s.

Populated by characters that will be revered for generations, this city rose out of the ground as one of those shady “Hell on Wheels” railroad towns. There’s a mystique and unapologetic truth to those roots.

But what about the other story that's often overlooked? The story in which Cheyenne appeared so fast, we were dubbed the “Magic City of the Plains”? The story of a rough and rowdy city that, over time, gradually shifted its shape into a social and cultural hub for the area?

That’s the story I dig: The story of the everyday magicians who bettered our community because they were motivated to make a better life for themselves and others.

Back in the day, people viewed Cheyenne, Wyoming, as this magical place to go for entertainment, opportunity and the chance at a better life.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Group seeking volunteers to help beautify Cheyenne

By Kirsten Malm

Editor's Note

The following is the sixth in a series of eight guest op-eds from leaders of the Forward Greater Cheyenne initiative. Subsequent pieces will appear here each Tuesday.

Imagine you are in a city that has more than four museums, 37 miles of paved bike path, an estimated 400 art installations in parks and throughout the city, an increasing number of 100-plus concerts a year, and farmers markets in the summer and winter.

No, this is not Fort Collins, Colorado. This is our great city, Cheyenne, Wyoming!

The Beautification Committee set forth by Forward Greater Cheyenne aims to develop, promote and set in motion strategic programs to make Cheyenne a place where we are all proud to live and work. Through these initiatives, we ultimately hope to bring our community together, enhance Cheyenne’s image, and strengthen resident awareness and engagement in community initiatives.

Our plan is to further encourage collaboration and coordination between organizations involved with community improvement. Our committee will focus on the following strategic initiatives:

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Community must invest in infrastructure

By Tighe Fagan

Editor’s note: The following is the fifth in a series of eight guest op-eds from leaders of the Forward Greater Cheyenne initiative. Subsequent pieces will appear here each Tuesday.

The term infrastructure is a rather open-ended concept, depending on context. According to the Market Street Implementation Plan, which serves as the strategic vision for Forward Greater Cheyenne, infrastructure is narrowed to the following: transportation, housing, military and government, and broadband.

A cornerstone of the Forward Greater Cheyenne initiative is to leverage what we now have as regional assets and what we can improve in these four aspects in the years to come.

Greater Cheyenne has been a transportation hub, dating back to 1867 during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad that passes through Cheyenne, and it will continue to be. Rail, coupled with the intersection of Interstates 25 and 80, make our community a linchpin in the movement of people and goods throughout the United States.

We must continue to capitalize on this unique geographic opportunity. There are currently several projects in flight. Front Range Passenger Rail is one such project. This is an effort to alleviate congestion along I-25 and provide for an alternative to automobile transportation. It would also provide improved access to workforce throughout the region for our businesses. This initiative will also have the added benefit of providing easy access to Denver International Airport.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Report says young workers flocking to Spartanburg

By Adam Orr
Staff Writer

Two years into a five-year mission and Spartanburg leaders are already touting the payoffs of the OneSpartanburg plan and promising plenty more to come.

Chief among them? Millennials — which includes workers between 25-34-years-old — are flocking to Spartanburg, according to the group, surging by nearly 18 percent over the past five years.

That’s good enough to rank 8th nationally among small metro areas, according to OneSpartanburg.

It’s a data point Allen Smith was keen to highlight Tuesday, as the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO detailed OneSpartanburg’s second year scorecard at the University of South Carolina Upstate’s Sansbury Campus Life Center.

“In just two short years we’ve made tremendous progress on all fronts,” Smith said Tuesday. “The issues identified in this plan, if addressed, will position Spartanburg for economic prosperity and I think you’re already seeing that.”

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.